Ribbon positioning mechanism for telegraph printers

ABSTRACT

An independently mounted ribbon shift mechanism facilitates two color printing in a telegraph page printer. The mechanism includes a slidably mounted ribbon lifter for reciprocally supporting an inked ribbon to be raised to one of two selected positions to interpose the raised ribbon between a printing element and a platen traversed by the printing element. The printing element is connected through a drive bracket to the ribbon lifter to impart the traversing movement of the printing element to the ribbon lifter.

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positions to interpose the raised ribbon between a printing element anda platen traversed by the printing element. The printing element isconnected through a drive bracket to the ribbon lifter to impart thetraversing movement of the element to the ribbon lifter.

References Cited printing 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 197/159.....197/170 Palmer et 197/16 2,027,509 Avery 2,509,862 5/1950Dreher....... 2,879,876 3/1959 Patented May 30, 1972 3,666,069

INVENTOR KIYOSHI suzum BY 9. M

ATTORNEY RIBBON POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is concernedwith ribbon positioning and shifting mechanisms for printing telegraphapparatus, and more specifically with an independently mountedtraversable ribbon oscillator mechanism for raising an inked ribbonupward one of two selectively variable distances and interposing theraised ribbon between the printing element and the traversed platen of atelegraph page printer.

2. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS In printing telegraph equipment, such asthat of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,505,729 to W. J.Zenner, a single color ribbon is extended across a stationaryteletypewriter platen between a pair of ribbon spools pivotallysupported on the side plates of the machine. The ribbon spools and theribbon therebetween are oscillated vertically to inter pose the ribbonbetween the printing element and the platen.

It would be desirable to provide in printing telegraph equipment amechanism which could selectively raise an inked ribbon one of twodistances to interpose either an upper or lower inked half of the ribbonbetween the printing element and the platen.

One of the problems in modifying existing telegraph equipment, ordesigning new equipment to include auxiliary mechanisms such as atwo-color ribbon shift mechanism, is the problem of the added weight ofthe auxiliary mechanism which may act to load the apparatus, therebyslowing down the speed of operation. Further, the added load of theauxiliary mechanism may introduce inertia problems on moving parts andlead to damage or increased wear on existing mechanisms within theapparatus. Thus, the ribbon lifting mechanism should be capable offunctioning without interfering with or placing an undue drag on any ofthe other telegraph mechanisms, such as the printing mechanism.

With a telegraph printer operating at printing speeds of 150 words perminute or more and using a two color ribbon on a modified pivoted spoolarrangement, a whipping effect may manifest itself in the ribbonspanning the spools. This whipping effect is caused by a lag between themovement of the spools and the ribbon due to the failure of the ribbonto follow the instantaneous movement of the spools and results in poorcolor registration. The end result is that many characters may beprinted partially one color and partially the other color. Poorregistration persists despite any increase in tension of the ribbonbetween the spools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is toprovide a new and improved independently supported two-color ribbonshift mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus wherein acceptablecolor registration of the ribbon is insured by selectively moving thecolor half of the ribbon sector at the printing point into properinterpositional alignment between a printing element and a platen.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedribbon shift mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus of the typehaving a stationary platen traversed by a printing hammer on a carriagewherein the ribbon oscillator is mounted independently of the hammercarriage but follows the movement thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplatesa mechanism for shifting an inked ribbon into a selected one of twopositions by selectively blocking the movement of the mechanism so thateither an upper or a lower portion of the ribbon is interposed between aselectively positioned type pallet and a platen. Following operation ofthe type pallet to print a character, or the execution of a spacingfunction, relative movement is imparted between the platen and an arrayof type pallets in anticipation of another cycle of operation. Thisrelative movement is accomplished by a character space movement of theribbon shifting mechanism through the agency of an independently mountedguide device which also functions to guide the ribbon shift mechanismduring its subsequent operation.

The arrangement of the independently mounted guide device insures thatthe ribbon shift mechanism is moved and properly positioned followingeach printing or spacing operation. In addition, the shifting of ribbonis accomplished without placing any additional loads on any of themechanisms that control the movement of a type pallet during a printingoperation, thereby avoiding problems of reduced speed, inertia, andundue wear on the type pallet selecting and operating facilities.

The ribbon shift mechanism also includes a reciprocating ribbon lifterwhich is always vertically aligned with the printing element. The ribbonlifter directly supports a section of the ribbon to interpose thesupported ribbon section between the printing element and the platen.This arrangement substantially eliminates the problem of whipping of theribbon at the printing point thus insuring proper color registrationduring each printing cycle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more comprehensive understanding of theinvention may be obtained by referring to the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two-color ribbon oscillator of thepresent invention together with certain elements of a teletypewriterprinting unit showing the positioning and cooperation of the ribbonoscillator therewith; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in thedirection of the arrows, particularly illustrating the configuration ofa reciprocally mounted ribbon support together with a showing of theconnection of the support to a driving lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is here made to US. Pat. No. 2,505,729 toW. J. Zenner which, while not essential to an understanding of thepresent invention, illustrates a general type of printing telegraphapparatus in which the invention may be utilized and is incorporated byreference in showing a printing and signal controlled selectingmechanism which can be utilized with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown the printing zone of a telegraphpage printer looking from within the apparatus outward toward anoperator or observer. A cylindrical platen 11, similar to the platen 499shown in the Zenner patent, is supported within the framework (notshown) of the apparatus and is mounted for rotary movement about ahorizontal axis. A type box or carrier 12, spaced from the platen 11, ismounted for translatory movement in a plane parallel to the axis of theplaten 11. The type box 12 supports a plurality of coordinately arrayedprinting elements or type pallets 13-43. Each pallet 13 is resilientlysupported within the type box 12 which may be coordinately positionedand selectively arrested to align any one of the arrayed pallets 13-13with a print hammer 14 mounted on a rectilinearly movable hammercarriage 15.

Between the platen l1 and the type box 12, a ribbon 16 is reversiblyadvanced between a pair of ribbon spools (not shown) on both sides ofthe platen 11. The ribbon 16 extends along the length of the platen andis supported for vertical movement within a ribbon shift or oscillatingmechanism 17, which is the subject matter of the present invention.

The platen 11 supports a recording medium 18, which may be a papersheet, for receiving lines of printed information. The platen l 1 ismounted for rotation in predetermined increments by a line feedmechanism (not shown) to provide line spacing of the printedinformation. The type box 12 may be positioned by an aggregate motionmechanism under the control of a selector mechanism in accordance with areceived telegraph code signal or in response to the depression of alocal character key on the unit keyboard under the control of anoperator.

The hammer carriage is mounted on rollers 19-19 and may be advancedrectilinearly along a guide shaft 21 by a wire band 22 secured by aclamp 23 to a bracket 24 fastened to the carriage 15 by a screw 26. Thewire band 22 is wound about a pair of rotatable drums or pulleys (notshown) supported within the frame of the apparatus under the control ofa character spacing mechanism.

The ribbon shift mechanism 17 of FIG. 1 includes a ribbon lifter 27having a frame section 28 and a support section 29. The frame section 28is open at its central portion to provide a window 31 through which atype pallet 13 may be advanced to move the ribbon 16 supported in framesection 28 into printing engagement with the recording medium 18 andagainst the platen 11. The frame section 28 is additionally providedwith a pair of spaced upwardly bent tangs 32-32 which serve to retain,guide and support the ribbon 16 with respect to window 31 and tomaintain a spaced distance between the platen 11 and the ribbon 16 toprevent smudging of printed characters on the recording medium.

The support or elongated section 29 of the ribbon lifter 27 is providedwith a hooked end 33 through which is passed a pin 34 connected betweenthe parallel arms 35-35 of a driving lever 36 to provide a looseconnection between the ribbon lifter 27 and the lever 36 as shown inFIG. 2. The driving lever 36 is slidably mounted on a square-sectionedrock shaft 37 which extends horizontally along the length of the printerin parallel with the platen 1 1 and is joumaled at each end within abearing 38 supported within the side frame 39 of the apparatus.

The rock shaft 37 may be rocked or oscillated about its central axis.Rock shaft 37 is connected through a bracket 41 to a drive link 42. Ahelical spring 43 connected between a pin 44 mounted on drive link 42and the side frame 39 constantly urges the drive link 42 downwardly suchthat a lower knee 46 on the drive link 42 continuously engages thesurface of a rotatable cam 47 which acts to reciprocate the drive link42 vertically.

The distance of vertical travel of the drive link 42 is controlled bythe selective interpositioning of a color selector bar 48 in thevertical path of a shoulder 49 formed on drive link 42. Theinterposition of color selector bar 48 and subsequent contact withshoulder 49 arrests the downward movement of drive link 42 to limit theangle through which shaft 37 may be rocked and hence limit the verticaldistance through which the ribbon lifter 27 may be reciprocated by thedrive lever 36. With this arrangement, an upper half 51 or a lower half52 of the ribbon 16 may be selectively aligned with the print hammer 14.The upper half 51 of ribbon 16 may be impregnated with ink of a firstcolor (e.g., black) and the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 may beimpregnated with ink of a second color e. g., red) to provide fortwo-color printing.

The movement of rock shaft 37 may also be utilized to trip a hammerdriving mechanism (not shown) to impact the print hammer 14 against analigned type pallet 13 in type box 12, driving the pallet 13 through thewindow 31 to force the aligned half of ribbon 16 against sheet 18 andplaten 11 to print a character on the sheet 18.

The ribbon lifter 27 is guided for vertical reciprocation in a rider 54slidably mounted on a guide bar 55 which extends the length of theprinter parallel to the axis of the platen. The elongated section 29 ofthe ribbon lifter 27 extends through a space between the guide bar 55and a pair of upper and lower horizontal cross-braces 56 and 57,respectively, on the rider 54. The cross-braces 56 and 57 are benthorizontally at their extremities and are connected to each otherthereat by a pair of spaced vertical connecting bars 58-58. The lowersurfaces of the bent ends of cross-brace 56 slidably bear on guide bar55. The bent ends of the lower cross-brace 57 prevent the rider 54 fromtilting on the guide bar 55. The lower crossbrace 57 is formed with apair of depending partially tubular legs 59-59 having oppositely locatedslots 61-61 and 62- 62 for receiving the outwardly bent ends 63-63 and64-64, respectively, of a spacer 65.

The drive lever 36 and the lifter 27 are maintained in alignment by thespacer 65. The spacer 65 has a U-shaped guide section 66 which underliesthe arms 35-35 of drive lever 36 and acts to centralize the lifter 27 inthe rider 54 as well as to maintain the alignment between the drivelever 36 and lifter 54.

It will be noted that the ribbon shift mechanism thus far described issupported independently of the hammer and type carriers and thusrepresents no added weight to those carriers. The independent mountingof the ribbon shift mechanism therefore avoids any damage or increasedwear to the apparatus which otherwise might result from the increasedinertia of the rapidly moving carriers on return traverse.

To move the ribbon shift mechanism 17 along the guide bar 55 and therock shaft 37, a follower bracket 67 is utilized. The bracket 67 issecured at one end to the carriage bracket 24 by a pair of screws 68-68through an L-bend 69 in bracket 67. The follower bracket 67 is furtherbent downwardly under the guide bar 55 leftward, and rearward behinddepending legs 59-59 of rider 54 and has two fingers 71-71 which arebent forward to straddle the depending right leg 59 of rider 54. Therectilinear movement of the hammer carriage 15 is imparted throughfollower bracket 67 to rider 54 sliding the rider 54 along guide bar 55.The sliding movement of rider 54 on guide bar 55 is imparted through thespacer 65 to the drive lever 36 and the lifter 27 connected thereto,thus sliding the lever 36 along the rock shaft 37 It can be seen thatthe follower bracket 67 and the spacer 65, act to move the ribbon shiftmechanism 17 rectilinearly along the guide bar 55 and the rock shaft 37.The ribbon shift mechanism 77 therefore follows the movement of thehammer carriage 15 in order to maintain constant vertical alignment ofthe lifter 27 and the print hammer 14.

The ribbon shift mechanism 17 just described is capable of two modes ofoperation, both of which may be controlled by the selective positioningof the color selector bar 48. The color selector bar 48 may be initiallypositioned manually or automatically, (e.g., by the selection of afunction bar similar to the function bars 39 shown in theabove-identified Zenner patent) and will maintain its initial positionuntil changed by an operator or upon receipt of a coded sequence oftelegraph signals.

In the first mode of operation, the color selector bar 48 is in theblocking position, i.e., aligned with and interposed in the path of theshoulder 49 on drive link 42. In this mode of operation, the upper half51 of ribbon 16 will be interposed between an aligned type pallet 13 andthe platen 11 by the ribbon positioning mechanism 17 once during eachprinting cycle of the apparatus.

Initially, the type box 12 is positioned in accordance with the receiptof a coded signal to align one of the coordinately arrayed type pallets13-13 therein with the print hammer 14. The cam 47 is then rotated toactuate the drive link 42 downwardly, rocking the shaft 57 clockwiseuntil the shoulder 49 on the drive link 42 strikes the interposed colorselector bar 48. The rocking movement of shaft 57 pivots the drive lever36 clockwise raising the ribbon lifter 27 upward a first distance tointerpose the upper half of window 31 and the upper half 51 of thesupported section of ribbon 16 at the printing point, between thealigned type pallet 13 and the platen 11. It is seen that, whether ornot the ribbon whips between the spools, the section of ribbon beingutilized at the printing point is always properly aligned for good colorregistration.

As the shaft 37 is rocked, it trips the hammer actuating mechanism toimpact the print hammer 14 against the aligned pallet 13 driving thepallet 13 through the upper half of the window 31 forcing the alignedupper half 51 of ribbon 16 against the recording medium 18 on the platen11 to print a character. The tripping of the hammer actuating mechanismis timed to allow the ribbon lifter 27 to reach the end of its upwardtravel before the hammer 14 is actuated. The hammer actuating mechanismthen retracts the hammer from the resiliently mounted pallet 13.

After the hammer 14 is retracted, the cam 47 continues to rotate movingthe drive link 42 upwardly against the bias of spring 43 rocking theshaft 37 counterclockwise. The counterclockwise movement of shaft 37pivots the lever 36 downwardly to lower the ribbon lifter 27 and await asub sequent printing cycle. At this time, the spacing mechanism mayadvance the type box 12, the print hammer carriage l5 and the ribbonshift mechanism 17 through follower bracket 67, an incremental distancerepresenting one character space along the platen 11. If subsequentcharacter signals are not forthcoming, a retraction mechanism (notshown) may be operated to lower the type box 12 to provide fullvisibility of the printed character or characters.

In the second mode of operation of the ribbon shift mechanism 17, thecolor selector bar 48 is initially in an unblocking position, i.e., outof alignment with the shoulder 49 on drive link 42. In this mode of.operation, the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 will be interposed between analigned type pallet 13 and the platen 11 by the ribbon shift mechanism17 once during each printing cycle of the apparatus.

Upon rotation of the cam 47, the drive link 42 is moved downwardlyrocking the shaft 37 clockwise until the lowermost position of the drivelink 42 permitted by the cam 47 is achieved. The rocked shaft 37 pivotsthe drive lever 36 upwardly raising the ribbon lifter 27 upward a seconddistance to interpose the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 in the window 31between the aligned type pallet 13 and the platen 11.

After the hammer 14 is actuated, the cam 47 continues its rotation toadvance the drive link 42 upwardly against the bias of spring 43 rockingthe shaft 37 counterclockwise pivoting the drive lever 36 downwardly tolower the ribbon lifter 27 to await a subsequent cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ribbon shift mechanism included within a printer having aprinting device and a platen mounted for relative rectilinear movementwith respect to each other:

means for supporting a ribbon;

means for guiding said ribbon supporting means along a reciprocatorypath between the printing device and the platen;

stationary means mounted independently of the printing device forsupporting said guiding means for movement along a path parallel to apath defined by the relative rectilinear movement of the printing deviceand the platen;

means for reciprocating said ribbon supporting means, said reciprocatingmeans having a portion connecting to said ribbon supporting means whichis movable by said guiding means in a direction parallel to saidparallel path of movement; and

means responsive to relative movement between the printing device andthe platen for moving said guiding means along said parallel path,thereby moving the connecting portion of said reciprocating means andsaid ribbon supporting means parallel to said parallel path of movement.

2. In a ribbon shift mechanism as set forth in claim 1, the combinationwherein said means for supporting said guiding means comprises:

a bar mounted independently of the printing device and parallel to therelative rectilinear path of movement of the printing device and theplaten; and

wherein said guiding means comprises a rider slidably mounted on saidbar.

3. In a ribbon shifting mechanism for incorporation in a printingapparatus having a platen and print impressing means mounted on acarrier spaced from and movable along a path parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the platen, the improvement which comprises:

a guide bar mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of said platen;

a device for holding a ribbon; means connected to said device for movingsaid device to position the ribbon between the print impressing meansand the platen, said moving means being movable parallel 5 to the pathof movement of the carrier;

means slidably mounted on said bar for engaging said moving means; and

means responsive to movements of the carrier for moving said engagingmeans to move said moving means and said device with said carrier.

4. In a guide and shift mechanism for positioning a ribbon between aplaten and a print device that is incrementally moved relative to theplaten;

a guide bar mounted parallel to the path of movement of andindependently of the print device;

a holder for supporting the ribbon, said holder being movably positionedadjacent to the guide bar for reciprocation out of and into interposingrelation between the print device and the platen;

a rider mounted on the guide bar for movement along the guide bar saidrider including means for guiding the movement of the holder between theprint device and the platen;

means responsive to movement of the print device relative to the platenfor moving the rider along the guide bar; and means for reciprocablymoving the holder through the guide means to interpose the ribbonbetween the print device and the platen. 3O 5. A device for moving aribbon relative to and between a print mechanism and the platen, wherethe print mechanism is moved longitudinally relative to the platen intosuccessive print positions, which comprises:

a guide bar mounted parallel to the axis of the platen;

a guide unit having a pair of spaced guide sections riding on the guidebar and a connecting section spaced from the guide bar;

means responsive to longitudinal movement of the print mechanism formoving the guide unit along the guide bar;

a ribbon lifter having frame means for supporting the ribbon;

an actuator connected to the lifter and extending through the spacebetween the guide bar and the connecting section; and

means connected to said actuator for reciprocating said actuator to movesaid lifter to position the ribbon between the print mechanism and theplaten.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating meanscomprises:

a lever connected to the end of the actuator and extending through thespace between the guide bar and the connecting section;

a rock shaft slidably supporting the end of the lever for impartingoscillatory movement to the lever to reciprocate the actuator and movethe lifter to position the ribbon between the print mechanism and theplaten; and

means for oscillating the rock shaft.

7. In a ribbon oscillating mechanism for a page printer wherein aprinting means is supported on a carriage mounted for movement in ahorizontal rectilinear path;

an elongated shaft having a central axis in parallel with said path andmounted for oscillatory movement about said axis;

means for oscillating said shaft;

a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft and movable therewith;

a lifter connected to and vertically aligned with said drive lever andmounted for reciprocating movement and for supporting said reciprocatinga ribbon;

means mounted and supported independently of the carriage for holdingsaid ribbon lifter in vertical alignment with said drive lever; and

means connecting said holding means to the carriage for impartingrectilinear movement of the carriage to the aligned ribbon guide anddrive arm.

8. In a printing telegraph apparatus having a mechanism for selectivelyinterposing a ribbon between a print hammer mounted to an assemblymovable along an axis and a platen mounted parallel to said axis;

an elongated guide bar extending along an axis parallel to said platen;

a guide member slidably mounted on said guide bar;

a ribbon lifter vertically aligned with the print hammer and mounted forreciprocating movement in said guide member in a path normal to saidguide bar axis;

a shaft extending parallel to said guide bar and mounted for oscillatorymovement;

means for oscillating said shaft;

a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft for imparting reciprocatingmovement to said ribbon lifter to interpose said ribbon guide betweenthe platen and the print hammer; and

means connecting said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drivelever to the movable assembly for moving said guide member, said ribbonguide and said drive lever in response to movement of the assembly alongthe axis in paths parallel to the path of the assembly.

9. In a ribbon lifter mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatushaving a movable printing unit;

a lifter having a pair of spaced tongs supporting the ribbon,

and a dependent actuator arm;

a lever connected at one end to said actuator arm;

a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement and connected to the otherend of the lever for moving the actuator arm and the lifter to positionthe ribbon;

means for oscillating the rock shaft;

a guide bar;

a guide member having a pair of spaced sections spanning the actuatorarm and being slidably mounted on the guide bar;

means for imparting movement of the printing unit to the guide member;and

means for maintaining the lifter and lever centrally positioned betweensaid spaced sections of the guide member.

10. A mechanism for positioning a ribbon which comprises:

a rock shaft;

a lever slidably supported on said rock shaft;

a guide shaft parallel to said rock shaft;

a rider slidably supported on said guide shaft;

a spacer unit connected to said rider and bearing against said lever foraligning said lever with said rider;

means connected to said lever and extending between said rider and guideshaft for reciprocally supporting the ribbon; and

means for rocking said shaft to rock said lever and reciprocate saidsupporting means and said ribbon.

11. In a telegraph page printer having a platen, an inked ribbonextending along the platen, a print hammer assembly mounted on acarriage for traversing the ribbon and the platen, a hammer actuatingmechanism, a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement about an axisparallel to the platen, and means for activating said hammer actuatingmechanism in response to the movement of said rock shaft, theimprovement which comprises:

a guide shaft;

a guide slidably mounted on said guide shaft;

a reciprocating ribbon support extending through said guide andsupported for sliding movement relative to said guide shaft;

reciprocating means connected to said ribbon support riage traverses theplaten. 12. In a page printer wherein a type unit moves parallel withrespect to the axis of a cylindrical platen supporting a record carrier,and wherein a ribbon interposed between the type unit and the platen isselectively forced by the type unit to move toward the platen forproducing markings on the record carrier, the improvement comprising:

a guide bar mounted in parallel and in fixed relation to the axis of theplaten;

a guide slidably mounted on and spaced from the guide bar to move inparallel to the platen;

means for sliding the guide along the guide bar in response to movementof the type unit;

a ribbon holder having retaining means for holding the ribbon, theribbon holder extending perpendicular to the guide bar and through thespace between the guide bar and the guide for support by the guide barand the guide;

means for reciprocating the ribbon holder between an upper positionlocating the lower portion of the ribbon in alignment with the type unitto allow the lower portion of the ribbon to be forced toward the platenand a lower position locating the ribbon away from the type unit; and

means acting on the reciprocating means for arresting the reciprocationof the holder to locate the upper portion of the ribbon in position tobe forced toward the platen by the typing unit.

13. In a device for selectively positioning a ribbon between a platenand a printing element on a carriage which transverses the platen inresponse to motion of actuating mechanisms for moving the carriage:

means mounted independently of the carriage for traversing movementrelative to the platen;

a holder for receiving the ribbon, said holder being guided by saidtraversing means for reciprocating movement relative to the platen;

means connecting to said holder for imparting reciprocatory movement andtraversing movement to said holder to position the ribbon between theprinting element and the platen, said connecting means being engaged bysaid traversing means for traversing movement relative to the platen;

means for reciprocating said connecting means, said reciprocating meansslidably mounting said connecting means for traversing movement relativeto the platen; and

follower means connecting the carriage to said traversing means forimparting traversing movement of the carriage to said traversing means,and thereby imparting traversing movement to said connecting means andsaid holder.

1. In a ribbon shift mechanism included within a printer having aprinting device and a platen mounted for relative rectilinear movementwith respect to each other: means for supporting a ribbon; means forguiding said ribbon supporting means along a reciprocatory path betweenthe printing device and the platen; stationary means mountedindependently of the prinTing device for supporting said guiding meansfor movement along a path parallel to a path defined by the relativerectilinear movement of the printing device and the platen; means forreciprocating said ribbon supporting means, said reciprocating meanshaving a portion connecting to said ribbon supporting means which ismovable by said guiding means in a direction parallel to said parallelpath of movement; and means responsive to relative movement between theprinting device and the platen for moving said guiding means along saidparallel path, thereby moving the connecting portion of saidreciprocating means and said ribbon supporting means parallel to saidparallel path of movement.
 2. In a ribbon shift mechanism as set forthin claim 1, the combination wherein said means for supporting saidguiding means comprises: a bar mounted independently of the printingdevice and parallel to the relative rectilinear path of movement of theprinting device and the platen; and wherein said guiding means comprisesa rider slidably mounted on said bar.
 3. In a ribbon shifting mechanismfor incorporation in a printing apparatus having a platen and printimpressing means mounted on a carrier spaced from and movable along apath parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platen, the improvementwhich comprises: a guide bar mounted parallel to the longitudinal axisof said platen; a device for holding a ribbon; means connected to saiddevice for moving said device to position the ribbon between the printimpressing means and the platen, said moving means being movableparallel to the path of movement of the carrier; means slidably mountedon said bar for engaging said moving means; and means responsive tomovements of the carrier for moving said engaging means to move saidmoving means and said device with said carrier.
 4. In a guide and shiftmechanism for positioning a ribbon between a platen and a print devicethat is incrementally moved relative to the platen; a guide bar mountedparallel to the path of movement of and independently of the printdevice; a holder for supporting the ribbon, said holder being movablypositioned adjacent to the guide bar for reciprocation out of and intointerposing relation between the print device and the platen; a ridermounted on the guide bar for movement along the guide bar said riderincluding means for guiding the movement of the holder between the printdevice and the platen; means responsive to movement of the print devicerelative to the platen for moving the rider along the guide bar; andmeans for reciprocably moving the holder through the guide means tointerpose the ribbon between the print device and the platen.
 5. Adevice for moving a ribbon relative to and between a print mechanism andthe platen, where the print mechanism is moved longitudinally relativeto the platen into successive print positions, which comprises: a guidebar mounted parallel to the axis of the platen; a guide unit having apair of spaced guide sections riding on the guide bar and a connectingsection spaced from the guide bar; means responsive to longitudinalmovement of the print mechanism for moving the guide unit along theguide bar; a ribbon lifter having frame means for supporting the ribbon;an actuator connected to the lifter and extending through the spacebetween the guide bar and the connecting section; and means connected tosaid actuator for reciprocating said actuator to move said lifter toposition the ribbon between the print mechanism and the platen.
 6. Adevice as defined in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating meanscomprises: a lever connected to the end of the actuator and extendingthrough the space between the guide bar and the connecting section; arock shaft slidably supporting the end of the lever for impartingoscillatory movement to the lever to reciprocate the actuator and movethe lifter to position the ribbon between The print mechanism and theplaten; and means for oscillating the rock shaft.
 7. In a ribbonoscillating mechanism for a page printer wherein a printing means issupported on a carriage mounted for movement in a horizontal rectilinearpath; an elongated shaft having a central axis in parallel with saidpath and mounted for oscillatory movement about said axis; means foroscillating said shaft; a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft andmovable therewith; a lifter connected to and vertically aligned withsaid drive lever and mounted for reciprocating movement and forsupporting said reciprocating a ribbon; means mounted and supportedindependently of the carriage for holding said ribbon lifter in verticalalignment with said drive lever; and means connecting said holding meansto the carriage for imparting rectilinear movement of the carriage tothe aligned ribbon guide and drive arm.
 8. In a printing telegraphapparatus having a mechanism for selectively interposing a ribbonbetween a print hammer mounted to an assembly movable along an axis anda platen mounted parallel to said axis; an elongated guide bar extendingalong an axis parallel to said platen; a guide member slidably mountedon said guide bar; a ribbon lifter vertically aligned with the printhammer and mounted for reciprocating movement in said guide member in apath normal to said guide bar axis; a shaft extending parallel to saidguide bar and mounted for oscillatory movement; means for oscillatingsaid shaft; a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft for impartingreciprocating movement to said ribbon lifter to interpose said ribbonguide between the platen and the print hammer; and means connecting saidguide member, said ribbon guide and said drive lever to the movableassembly for moving said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drivelever in response to movement of the assembly along the axis in pathsparallel to the path of the assembly.
 9. In a ribbon lifter mechanismfor a printing telegraph apparatus having a movable printing unit; alifter having a pair of spaced tongs supporting the ribbon, and adependent actuator arm; a lever connected at one end to said actuatorarm; a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement and connected to theother end of the lever for moving the actuator arm and the lifter toposition the ribbon; means for oscillating the rock shaft; a guide bar;a guide member having a pair of spaced sections spanning the actuatorarm and being slidably mounted on the guide bar; means for impartingmovement of the printing unit to the guide member; and means formaintaining the lifter and lever centrally positioned between saidspaced sections of the guide member.
 10. A mechanism for positioning aribbon which comprises: a rock shaft; a lever slidably supported on saidrock shaft; a guide shaft parallel to said rock shaft; a rider slidablysupported on said guide shaft; a spacer unit connected to said rider andbearing against said lever for aligning said lever with said rider;means connected to said lever and extending between said rider and guideshaft for reciprocally supporting the ribbon; and means for rocking saidshaft to rock said lever and reciprocate said supporting means and saidribbon.
 11. In a telegraph page printer having a platen, an inked ribbonextending along the platen, a print hammer assembly mounted on acarriage for traversing the ribbon and the platen, a hammer actuatingmechanism, a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement about an axisparallel to the platen, and means for activating said hammer actuatingmechanism in response to the movement of said rock shaft, theimprovement which comprises: a guide shaft; a guide slidably mounted onsaid guide shaft; a reciprocating ribbon support extending through saidguide and supported for sliding movement relative to said guide shaft;reciprocating means connected to said ribbon support means and slidablymounted on the rock shaft for positioning the ribbon between the printhammer and the platen when the rock shaft is oscillated to activate theprint hammer actuating mechanism; and means connecting said ribbonsupport and said reciprocating means to the hammer assembly carriage forsliding said ribbon support along said guide shaft and saidreciprocating means along said rock shaft when the carriage traversesthe platen.
 12. In a page printer wherein a type unit moves parallelwith respect to the axis of a cylindrical platen supporting a recordcarrier, and wherein a ribbon interposed between the type unit and theplaten is selectively forced by the type unit to move toward the platenfor producing markings on the record carrier, the improvementcomprising: a guide bar mounted in parallel and in fixed relation to theaxis of the platen; a guide slidably mounted on and spaced from theguide bar to move in parallel to the platen; means for sliding the guidealong the guide bar in response to movement of the type unit; a ribbonholder having retaining means for holding the ribbon, the ribbon holderextending perpendicular to the guide bar and through the space betweenthe guide bar and the guide for support by the guide bar and the guide;means for reciprocating the ribbon holder between an upper positionlocating the lower portion of the ribbon in alignment with the type unitto allow the lower portion of the ribbon to be forced toward the platenand a lower position locating the ribbon away from the type unit; andmeans acting on the reciprocating means for arresting the reciprocationof the holder to locate the upper portion of the ribbon in position tobe forced toward the platen by the typing unit.
 13. In a device forselectively positioning a ribbon between a platen and a printing elementon a carriage which transverses the platen in response to motion ofactuating mechanisms for moving the carriage: means mountedindependently of the carriage for traversing movement relative to theplaten; a holder for receiving the ribbon, said holder being guided bysaid traversing means for reciprocating movement relative to the platen;means connecting to said holder for imparting reciprocatory movement andtraversing movement to said holder to position the ribbon between theprinting element and the platen, said connecting means being engaged bysaid traversing means for traversing movement relative to the platen;means for reciprocating said connecting means, said reciprocating meansslidably mounting said connecting means for traversing movement relativeto the platen; and follower means connecting the carriage to saidtraversing means for imparting traversing movement of the carriage tosaid traversing means, and thereby imparting traversing movement to saidconnecting means and said holder.